Chapter 135 I Can Help You
Two days had elapsed since Ava had last seen Alexander. Despite her best efforts, she had been unable to establish contact with him. She had been fortunate enough to bring the divorce documents home on a Friday, thereby evading suspicion on the first day.
The weekend had followed, and she had used the excuse that she couldn't replace her ID card because the offices were closed. Throughout the entirety of Saturday and Sunday, she had tried to reach Alexander without success. She had dialed his number innumerable times, only to be met with the relentless disconnection tone. The extent of his involvement with Isabella remained a mystery to her, as it seemed he had severed all ties with the outside world.
Left with no other alternatives, Ava had no choice but to endure the torturous wait.
As Monday dawned, she was roused from her sleep by a call from Scarlett, who wasted no time in getting to the point.
"Ava, you must replace your ID card today and return the documents to me this afternoon. There can be no further delays," Scarlett commanded, her tone firm, hinting at her concern for the safety of the documents in Ava's care.
Barely awake, Ava responded with a groggy, “Grandma, what’s the rush?”
Scarlett retorted, "I knew I was right to push you—are you always this slow? You should have replaced your ID last Friday, but you kept putting it off. If you delay any longer, I'll personally take you to get it done."
Startled, Ava sat upright in bed, "Alright, Grandma, I understand. I'll renew my ID today."
She couldn't afford to postpone any longer without arousing her grandmother's suspicions. The old woman was as sharp as a needle.
"Then get moving. Ensure the documents are mailed back by five this afternoon, do you understand?"
"I understand, Grandma."
In the face of her grandmother's scrutiny, Ava's small attempts at deception were laid bare—her only option was to comply.
After ending the call, Ava hastily sent a text to Alexander, "Did you receive my messages? Grandma's asking for the documents—please respond!"
Over the past few days, she had inundated Alexander with a barrage of texts.
Just as Ava finished her breakfast, her phone rang. She snatched it up, hoping it was Alexander, only to find it was a call from William.
A pang of disappointment hit her, but she answered, "Hello?"
"Ava, are you feeling better?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm doing alright. What can I do for you?"
"Have you forgotten? You owe me a meal. Are you free for lunch today?"
"Today at noon, I..." she hesitated.
"Is something wrong? Is it not a good time?"
"Well, I..." Her voice trailed off.
"You seem preoccupied. Is something bothering you?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
Ava fell silent, unsure of how to respond.
"Is this about Alexander again? You can talk to me about it, perhaps I can offer some advice."
Ava exhaled deeply, needing to confide in someone, "I finally got the divorce documents from his grandmother, but now I can't reach him at all. I'm really worried about it, I'm sorry, I probably can't join you for lunch today."
"That's alright. So, you have the papers, but he's gone silent?"
"Yes, his assistant can't reach him either. He's on vacation, completely off the grid. I've tried everything, but he's nowhere to be found."
"You seem really worried. What if you just waited for him to return from his holiday?"
"I can't wait any longer," Ava sighed, a note of defeat in her voice. "The divorce documents have always been with his grandmother. She's been asking me to return them, unaware that I need them for the divorce. I lied, saying they were for a replacement ID. She gave me a deadline: return them by five this afternoon. I'm out of time."
Hearing the despair in Ava's voice, William could sense her anxiety and her urgency to divorce Alexander as soon as possible.
After a moment of silence, William finally said, "Ava, let's meet up. I know a few people who might be able to help you out."
